Friday, June 18, 2004
The win over the Angels was his first at home in over a year.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Kris Benson's modest turnaround began when he quit trying to be the pitcher everyone thought he could be and concentrated on simply being the pitcher he is.
Tike Redman and Jack Wilson homered in Pittsburgh's go-ahead seventh inning, and the Pirates beat the Anaheim Angels 5-2 on Thursday night for Benson's first home victory in more than a year.
Homers twice
Redman began the game in a 4-for-28 slump, but hit two homers during a 3-for-4 night. He added a two-run drive in the eighth against reliever Kevin Gregg.
Benson (5-6) won in PNC Park for the first time since beating Arizona on May 10, 2003. He was 0-6 with a 6.30 ERA in 11 starts since, including 0-2 this season.
"We didn't challenge Benson at all," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.
"We let him breeze through a couple of innings and get his feet on the ground, and he pitched a terrific game."
Benson allowed five hits, struck out eight and walked none in eight innings in his first career start against Anaheim. It was his best start since holding the Mets to one run in seven innings on April 18, an 8-1 victory. He had lost five of six decisions, winning only once since April 30.
"Without a doubt, this is the best I've felt in a long time," Benson said. "I've had some decent starts now, and it's given me some confidence."
Before Benson held the Cubs to two runs in six innings on June 5, he met with manager Lloyd McClendon and three coaches to review what he was doing wrong.
Adjusted mechanics
Pitching coach Spin Williams adjusted his mechanics and McClendon and hitting coach Gerald Perry convinced him go after hitters more aggressively. Benson has long been considered a potential 15- to 20-game winner, yet the former No. 1 draft pick has only a 40-47 record in 119 career starts.
"We just wanted to simplify things," said McClendon. "We told him hitting in the major leagues is very difficult to do and his stuff is plenty good enough to get hitters out. He was very positive about it, he was open to suggestions and he's taken it to the mound."
Since then, Benson has allowed seven earned runs in 201/3 innings; maybe not Cy Young-type numbers, but an improvement over the 13 runs in 12 innings he gave up in his two starts before that.
"Before, I think I was tipping my pitches off by exposing the ball [during his windup]," Benson said. "Now they're missing the pitches they used to hit hard."
Mesa gets save
Jose Mesa pitched the ninth for his 16th save in as many chances and second in as many nights, tying Mike Williams' 2000 and 2002 club record for consecutive saves in a season.
Benson outpitched Bartolo Colon (4-6), who's winless in seven starts since beating Tampa Bay on May 8. Colon couldn't hold a 2-1 lead in the seventh, allowing Redman's third homer on his first pitch of the inning and, three batters later, Wilson's go-ahead drive.